Your Last.FM, Eharmony & Linkedin Passwords are Available Online, What Can You Do?

Last.FM, Eharmony, and LinkedIn are the latest in a number of high profile password security breaches over the last year; calling concern to this growing trend of hacks and attacks. Russian hacker groups have posted some of this information online, recruiting other hackers to help decrypt the confidential information. Reports have surfaced that bogus emails have been discovered, that have been sent out on users behalf, without their knowledge.

The range and depth of this latest breach has not yet been completely realized, and it is unknown how this information will be used in the future. So what are some immediate precautions that can be taken by users?

Immediately login and change all affected account passwords

If you utilize the same password for other sites/logins change those as well

Use a unique password for each site you use

Create a secondary email address that you use just for account creation

Use strong passwords with letters and numbers

Do not use common words or phrases for passwords

Some of these tips could require keeping a secure database of passwords to remember what was used for each account. There are a number of software tools available for your operating system or mobile device; you can find these by searching the internet for “password manager”.

As more software resides in the cloud, it is important to develop password best practices, and change your passwords often. This will ensure that your privacy and information stays safe.